Means for orienting automobile headlamps



J. THOREL MEANS FOR oRmNTING AUTOMOBILE HEADLAMPS Filed Feb. 5, 1924 Rael/.i214 C 1' 11014127/ Patented Oct.Y 27, 1.925,

iiiii.

,PATENT JEAN denon-ni, oF rouvlnas, FRANCE.

MEANS iron vonrlnv'rINGf AU'roMoBILE HEADLAMrs..

nieuwe@ ne@ February 5. i924. Seria ne.- eeeeee.

To all who-m. if may concern: Y

Be it knownthat I, JEAN THonEL, engik:

wherethe conditions of displacement of the parte te be eentifelleel ere Praetieelly the Seine en einiilerf Figures l and 2 ef the. eenenipnnying ennui-nee .shew Ineens in eeeei'danee Wiih the present invention, Figure 1 shewing a diagram of the means applied to the orientation of two automobile headlamps and by means of which the principle which characterizes the invention will be readily understood. Figure 2 is a diagram shewing the means for the orientation of two lamps but comprising a modified working thereof.

On referring to Figure l, it will be seen that the orientation of the lamps is effected by means of an element A comprising a plunger piston l which is movable in a cylinder 2, the latter being provided with an outlet 3. The outlet 3 is connected with a constant volume pipe 4 of suitable diameter. The piston works in a stufling box 5.

The axis of the cylinder and piston may be horizontal or vertical, but the said axis is preferably vertical and the movement of the piston is opposedV by a resilient force such as a return spring 6 which is disposed externally of the cylinder, as shewn.

The reversible element thus formed is connected by piping 4 to one element or two or more elements A', A2 which are irreversible and which serve to control the movements of the piston A. The entire space of the several elements is filled with a suitable'liquid which is preferably oil.

If suitable movements be given to the pistons of the elements A A2 the piston A will evidently have a resultant movement either in the direction of compression of the spring If the pistons the velements A yA2 are y .stationary reason-.of the action of the spring 6, the piston l andy consequently the laines ere elee Stationery.-

The spring 6 ought to be sufficiently powerful to overcome the hydraulic andineclianical friction ofthe system when the volume of the liquid contained inthe cylinder of the element Ay tends to decrease, i

V Theipiston ianvAl is connected tothe steering ineens .7 fen ,the Veniele and it ie iininebilized therewith. f Y Y y The Pieten in A2 ie eentifelled by the Chauffeur enell the irneiiereibility ie eieei'ed, fer exemple. by e eer-ev hevine e einell einen or any other'known means.

11.1 91,1652 @OndloilS am liiemelt Of the Steering. ineens' enel eenfeeanentlr ef A will result in a corresponding movement 'of the piston A and consequently of the headlamps which will be oriented in a suitable direction so as to light the road and especially at curved parts thereof. The chauffeur can always control the element A2 so as to rec tify this orientation or to give the desired orientation in the case of passing or crossing f in front of another vehicle in order to avoid the glare or for any otherfpurpose.

The piston A may be actuated so as to control the headlamp by rod and crank or crank only (the element A being articulated about a suitable axis). It may also, while sliding in its cylinder, turn through a suitable angle and directly control the headlamp if a helical slot be provided having a quick or coarse pitch which may be continuous or interrupted and causes it to turn during its longitudinal displacement or by vany equivalent means.

When it is desired to control a plurality of such means, these may be interconnected mechanically by any known means or method such as a coupling bar 8, for exa1n ple or each means may be controlled by a separate and distinct element as indicated in Figure 2. In this diagrammatic View the elements are connected to the starting elements B B2 of a control of which the supply element B receives the liquid from the elements A A2. The supplyv element and the starting elements are connected mechanically as indicated in the figure.

The piston A2 manipulated by the chauffeur can be controlled by hand or by vfoot in any suitable manner so that it may be Vjoy sticks be locked.

immobilized when the action of the chauffeur ceases or when it becomes convenient.

lt is quite evident that With identical piston play the headlamps P, P can be oriented about a horizontal or any other suitable aXis.

The piston plunger could also be replaced by an elastic diaphragm which may be displaced in any suitable chamber.

The use of the aforesaid means with the piston plunger controlled by another piston plunger or two or more piston plungers is not limited to the orientation of automobile headlamps. lt could also be used in the control of aeroplanes provided with dual control, for example, Where each pilot can,

by means of a joy stick, either correct ther movements of the pilot or of his assistant or ensure the control alone if one of the A third control element called a compensator could be placed at the disposition of the main pilot in such manner as to completely neutralize the element for the auxiliary pilot in the case of' a mistake or in the case of locking of any part or parts of the control gear. The control continuesto be effected with the second element once the compensation is effected.

Claims:

l. In an apparatus of the character described, a dirigible head-light, fluid pressure operable means for actuating said headlight, fluid displacing means operable by the vehicle steering gear, manually operable fluid displacing means operable independently of thefirst displacing means, and a fluid conduit connecting the several fluid displacing means with the, fluid pressure operable means.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim'l characterized by the provision of means for preventing movement of the fluid displacing means under the influence of fluid.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim l characterized by the provision of means tensioning the movement of the fiuid pressure operable means in one direction.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim l i characterized by the provision of a spring acting in response to the fluid pressure operable means in one direction, and means for preventing movement of the manually operable fluid displacing vmeans Linder the influence of fluid pressure acting thereon.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

J. THOREL. 

